Maj. Brent Taylor’s wife saw his body returned to this country and then delivered a message about freedom

(AP Photo/Steve Ruark) An Army carry team walks away from a vehicle holding a transfer case containing the remains of Maj. Br... (AP Photo/Steve Ruark) An Army carry team loads into a vehicle a transfer case containing the remains of Maj. Brent R. Taylor... (AP Photo/Steve Ruark) A transfer case containing the remains of Maj. Brent R. Taylor sits on a loader during a prayer at the... (AP Photo/Steve Ruark) Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley, left, salutes as an Army carry team moves a transfer case con... (AP Photo/Steve Ruark) A transfer case containing the remains of Maj. Brent R. Taylor sits on a loader at the Dover Air Force... (AP Photo/Steve Ruark) Airman 1st Class Italia Sampson closes a vehicle holding a transfer case containing the remains of Arm... (AP Photo/Steve Ruark) An Army carry team loads into a vehicle a transfer case containing the remains of Maj. Brent R. Taylor... (AP Photo/Steve Ruark) An Army carry team moves a transfer case containing the remains of Maj. Brent R. Taylor at Dover Air F...

(AP Photo/Steve Ruark) An Army carry team walks away from a vehicle holding a transfer case containing the remains of Maj. Brent R. Taylor at the Dover Air Force Base, Del., on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. According to the Department of Defense, Taylor, 39, of Ogden, Utah, died Nov. 3, 2018, in Kabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from small arms fire.(AP Photo/Steve Ruark) An Army carry team loads into a vehicle a transfer case containing the remains of Maj. Brent R. Taylor at Dover Air Force Base, Del., on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. According to the Department of Defense, Taylor, 39, of Ogden, Utah, died Nov. 3, 2018, in Kabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from small arms fire.(AP Photo/Steve Ruark) A transfer case containing the remains of Maj. Brent R. Taylor sits on a loader during a prayer at the Dover Air Force Base, Del., on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. According to the Department of Defense, Taylor, 39, of Ogden, Utah, died Nov. 3, 2018, in Kabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from small arms fire.(AP Photo/Steve Ruark) Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley, left, salutes as an Army carry team moves a transfer case containing the remains of Maj. Brent R. Taylor at Dover Air Force Base, Del., on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. According to the Department of Defense, Taylor, 39, of Ogden, Utah, died Nov. 3, 2018, in Kabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from small arms fire.(AP Photo/Steve Ruark) A transfer case containing the remains of Maj. Brent R. Taylor sits on a loader at the Dover Air Force Base, Del., on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. According to the Department of Defense, Taylor, 39, of Ogden, Utah, died Nov. 3, 2018, in Kabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from small arms fire.(AP Photo/Steve Ruark) Airman 1st Class Italia Sampson closes a vehicle holding a transfer case containing the remains of Army Maj. Brent R. Taylor at Dover Air Force Base, Del., on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. According to the Department of Defense, Taylor, 39, of Ogden, Utah, died Nov. 3, 2018, in Kabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from small arms fire.(AP Photo/Steve Ruark) An Army carry team loads into a vehicle a transfer case containing the remains of Maj. Brent R. Taylor at Dover Air Force Base, Del., on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. According to the Department of Defense, Taylor, 39, of Ogden, Utah, died Nov. 3, 2018, in Kabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from small arms fire.(AP Photo/Steve Ruark) An Army carry team moves a transfer case containing the remains of Maj. Brent R. Taylor at Dover Air Force Base, Del., on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. According to the Department of Defense, Taylor, 39, of Ogden, Utah, died Nov. 3, 2018, in Kabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from small arms fire.

Jennie and family members watched, grief-stricken, as an Army honor guard lifted a metal case holding Taylor’s body from a nearby jet that had whisked him to American soil. The soldiers carried the case a short distance to a waiting gray van as a crowd of dignitaries and enlisted service members saluted.

Army Undersecretary Ryan McCarthy; Gen. Mark Milley, the Army chief of staff; and Gen. Joseph Lengyel, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, were among officials who welcomed Taylor back along with Utah National Guard Maj. Gen. Jeff Burton and Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Anderson.

They stood, heads bowed, as chaplain David Kruse, an Army major, offered a short prayer, praising Taylor as a “fallen hero” who gave the “ultimate sacrifice.”

Few other words were spoken. The moment spoke for itself.

Two hours later, Jennie Taylor stood before TV cameras in a park to talk about the feelings that washed over her as her husband’s remains came home.

“To call it a sobering event would be an unspeakable understatement,” she said. “To say that our hearts are anything but shattered would be nothing short of true deceit. And yet, to deny the sacred honor that it is to stand that close to some of the freshest blood that has been spilt for our country would be absolute blasphemy.”

Taylor’s family couldn’t be seen during the transfer, though seven white chairs were awaiting the mourners. Jennie said her two oldest sons and their grandparents attended the early morning event.

It was fitting, Jennie said, that Taylor’s remains came back to America on Election Day; she noted that before his death he had implored everyone to vote.

“The price of freedom surely feels incredibly high to all those of us who know and love our individual soldier,” she said. “But the value of freedom is immeasurably high to all those who know and love America and all that she represents.”

1 of 19

(Photo courtesy of North Ogden) North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor, a major in the Utah National Guard, announced Monday, Jan. 8,... (courtesy photo) Maj. Brent Taylor, who was also the mayor of North Ogden, with his family. He's next to his wife Jennie and ... (Danny Chan La | Tribune file photo) In this 2006 file photo, the Taylor household in South Ogden bustles after dinner wit... (Paul Fraughton | Tribune file photo) In this 2008 file photo, 1st Lt. Brent Taylor, left, administers the oath of enlistme... (Paul Fraughton | Tribune file photo) In this 2008 file photo, Travis Taylor, fourth from left, takes the oath of enlistmen... (Paul Fraughton | Tribune file photo) In this 2008 file photo, 1st Lt. Brent Taylor, left, administers the oath of enlistme... (Scott Sommerdorf | Tribune file photo) In this 2008 file photo, photos from Brent and Jennie Taylor's wedding day are disp... (Scott Sommerdorf | Tribune file photo) In this 2008 file photo, Jennie Taylor dresses her children, Megan, left, and Linco... (Al Hartmann | Tribune file photo) In this 2008 file photo, Lt. Brent Taylor, with the Utah 116th National Guard unit, pla... (Jim Urquhart | Tribune file photo) Specialist Hyrum Chamberlain, of Pleasant Grove, left, is greeted by Lt. Brent Taylor,... (Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor, UTA's liaison for Weber and Box Elder Co., Brent Tay... (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) In this Feb. 2018 file photo, Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake, gets on the floo... (Facebook) The Spanish army contingent organized a volleyball tournament on the post, and our team took second place! We had ... (Facebook) Sniper rifle training time with some Spanish Army friends. I LOVE the Army! This photo was posted in a public Face... (Facebook) Ruck march up some tough terrain. Ruck marches always seem to go in one direction: UP This photo was posted in a p... (Facebook) Headed back to home base This photo was posted in a public Facebook group on Oct. 17, 2018, by North Ogden Mayor a... (Facebook) This photo was posted in a public Facebook group on Oct. 17, 2018, by North Ogden Mayor and National Guardsman Bre... (Facebook) My 'after mountain climbing' breakfast. Grapefruit, oatmeal, omelette, yogurts, boxed soymilk (we don't have the r... (Facebook) Blackhawk flight over Afghanistan. This photo was posted in a public Facebook group on Oct. 17, 2018, by North Og...

(Photo courtesy of North Ogden) North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor, a major in the Utah National Guard, announced Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, that he will temporarily leave behind his executive duties with the city to deploy to Afghanistan.(courtesy photo) Maj. Brent Taylor, who was also the mayor of North Ogden, with his family. He's next to his wife Jennie and his seven children. Their names are Megan (13), Lincoln (11), Alex (9), Jacob (7), Ellie (5), Jonathan (2), and Caroline (11 months). Taylor, 39, died in an insider attack in Kabul, Afghanistan in November 2018.(Danny Chan La | Tribune file photo) In this 2006 file photo, the Taylor household in South Ogden bustles after dinner with cookware talk, entertaining babies and eating dessert. Eighteen-year-old Devin, in the middle of it all, would be sworn into the Utah National Guard that Monday morning. He joins military brothers Bryan (25 black shirt), Brent (26 left) and, not pictured, Matt.(Paul Fraughton | Tribune file photo) In this 2008 file photo, 1st Lt. Brent Taylor, left, administers the oath of enlistment while in Iraq to his younger brother Travis Taylor, by way of a satellite feed.(Paul Fraughton | Tribune file photo) In this 2008 file photo, Travis Taylor, fourth from left, takes the oath of enlistment into the National Guard. The oath was administered by his brother, 1st Lt. Brent Taylor, who was deployed in Iraq at the time.(Paul Fraughton | Tribune file photo) In this 2008 file photo, 1st Lt. Brent Taylor, left, administers the oath of enlistment while in Iraq to his younger brother Travis Taylor, right.(Scott Sommerdorf | Tribune file photo) In this 2008 file photo, photos from Brent and Jennie Taylor's wedding day are displayed in the front room.(Scott Sommerdorf | Tribune file photo) In this 2008 file photo, Jennie Taylor dresses her children, Megan, left, and Lincoln, right, for a Halloween party in the front room, as a cardboard cutout of her husband Brent dominates the room. Taylor has been the perpetually smiling face of one Utah National Guard unit's family readiness unit, even when her husband called to tell her he was extending his stay in Iraq.(Al Hartmann | Tribune file photo) In this 2008 file photo, Lt. Brent Taylor, with the Utah 116th National Guard unit, plays with his daughter Megan, 2, at a Valentine's Day special breakfast hosted by Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker for Wives of Utah National Guard members deployed to Iraq.(Jim Urquhart | Tribune file photo) Specialist Hyrum Chamberlain, of Pleasant Grove, left, is greeted by Lt. Brent Taylor, of the Utah National Guard 116th security force, after returning from Iraq in 2008.(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor, UTA's liaison for Weber and Box Elder Co., Brent Taylor, listens during a meeting in 2017.(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) In this Feb. 2018 file photo, Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake, gets on the floor for a picture with Jennie Taylor and her seven kids before bringing them onto the Senate floor to honor them and her husband, Brent Taylor, the mayor of North Ogden, who was serving in Afghanistan. (Facebook) The Spanish army contingent organized a volleyball tournament on the post, and our team took second place! We had a great time! This photo was posted in a public Facebook group on Oct. 17, 2018, by North Ogden Mayor and National Guardsman Brent Taylor, who has been killed in Afghanistan.(Facebook) Sniper rifle training time with some Spanish Army friends. I LOVE the Army! This photo was posted in a public Facebook group on Oct. 17, 2018, by North Ogden Mayor and National Guardsman Brent Taylor, who has been killed in Afghanistan.(Facebook) Ruck march up some tough terrain. Ruck marches always seem to go in one direction: UP This photo was posted in a public Facebook group on Oct. 17, 2018, by North Ogden Mayor and National Guardsman Brent Taylor, who has been killed in Afghanistan.(Facebook) Headed back to home base This photo was posted in a public Facebook group on Oct. 17, 2018, by North Ogden Mayor and National Guardsman Brent Taylor, who has been killed in Afghanistan.(Facebook) This photo was posted in a public Facebook group on Oct. 17, 2018, by North Ogden Mayor and National Guardsman Brent Taylor, who has been killed in Afghanistan. Combat bicycle: my new favorite method for getting around! Taylor wrote.(Facebook) My 'after mountain climbing' breakfast. Grapefruit, oatmeal, omelette, yogurts, boxed soymilk (we don't have the real stuff), juice, chili, and Cheerios. Gotta make those calories back up! P.S., my friends threw in all the salt and pepper packets to make fun of me for taking a picture of breakfast in the first place! This photo was posted in a public Facebook group on Oct. 17, 2018, by North Ogden Mayor and National Guardsman Brent Taylor, who has been killed in Afghanistan.(Facebook) Blackhawk flight over Afghanistan. This photo was posted in a public Facebook group on Oct. 17, 2018, by North Ogden Mayor and National Guardsman Brent Taylor, who has been killed in Afghanistan.

Taylor, who was serving his second tour in Afghanistan — his fourth overall assignment in a war theater with the other two in Iraq — has been praised as a principled leader whose name had been mentioned for higher political office.

He had deployed to Afghanistan in January for a yearlong tour, saying it was his duty as a soldier to serve his country and help train Afghan forces.

“Right now there is a need for my experience and skills to serve in our nation’s long-lasting war in Afghanistan,” he said at the time. “President [Donald] Trump has ordered an increase in troops, and part of the new strategy focuses on expanding the capabilities of the Afghan commando units.”

An Afghan soldier shot and killed Taylor and wounded another soldier while they were on a foot patrol in Kabul. Other Afghan security forces killed the assailant.

Taylor’s funeral arrangements are still being planned.

The base here is the first stop for fallen soldiers brought back to the U.S. Airmen, soldiers, sailors and Marines meticulously prepare for the solemn transfer of caskets from a cargo plane to the on-site mortuary. No detail is too small in the choreographed ritual that runs deep with military protocol but is aimed at showing deference to a grieving family.

Thousands of military officers and enlisted men and women killed in war and peacetime overseas are traditionally brought to this base en route to their final resting sites. At the height of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, some 20 to 30 bodies were flown here sometimes daily, a scene that Americans didn’t see until 2009, when President Barack Obama allowed media access to the transfers with permission of the fallen service members’ families.